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Monday 09:00 - 16:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 16:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 16:00 Thursday 09:00 - 16:00 Friday 09:00 - 16:00

ESDF

ESDF - Sri Lanka is non-government organisation based on women's rights and development in Batticaloa district, east of Sri Lanka.

The ESDF is a women & rights-based organization which works with a vision of "creating a society that values an equitable & dignified future for all" by advancing human rights, gender equality, good governance, peacebuilding & economic growth ESDF - Sri Lanka has been working for peace and development by promoting women's rights, gender equality,mental health, democracy, economical and education development

16/05/2026

ESDF hosted a two-day victims’ healing session for individuals affected by the war and the Easter Sunday attacks held in the Batticaloa District on May 9 and 10, 2026.

Thirty victims participated in this healing session, which focused on providing psychological healing and enhancing their physical, emotional, and mental well-being through group therapy activities, including experience sharing, artwork, musical activities, and self-care learning.

In particular, this healing session contributed to positively motivating the selected victims and increasing their awareness of self-wellbeing.

As part of the programme, ESDF developed and introduced a new motivational tool called the “Butterfly Walk,” designed under the concept of “from darkness towards the path of light” to inspire and empower victims.

This activity was carried out by ESDF under the project “Fostering Accountability and Inclusive Governance in Sri Lanka” with the support of the KIOS Foundation.

30/04/2026

ESDF collaborated with the MPH to organize and conduct its 4th Committee Meeting, held in Colombo on April 18–19, 2026.

The meeting focused on restructuring the MPH committee and introducing new members, reviewing the ongoing work of the Justice Forum, developing the second-year work plan, and strategizing policy advocacy activities of the MPH.

In accordance with the agreed agenda, all planned activities were addressed, and the committee established its strategic direction for the next phase of implementation.

29/04/2026

ESDF organised and facilitated an inter-agency dialogue between Land Mediation Boards and Land Rights Activists engaged in addressing land issues across the Eastern Province. The dialogue was held in Batticaloa on April 22, 2026.

A total of 40 participants, including Land Mediators from the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara, as well as Land Rights Activists from these districts, participated in the dialogue.

The purpose of this inter-agency dialogue was to establish and strengthen a collaborative network between Land Mediation Boards and Land Rights Activists in the Eastern Province, with a view to identifying prevailing land issues and addressing them through the Land Mediation Board mechanism, thereby promoting and protecting the land rights of affected communities and reducing land-related disputes in the region.

The discussion was constructive and contributed to building a coordinated inter-agency approach to collectively address land issues and safeguard land rights.

This activity was conducted under the project “Civic Action for Empowerment, Justice and Governance in Sri Lanka,” with the support of UNOPS / Vriddhi Network

24/04/2026

ESDF facilitated a community legal awareness session on land rights held in Pulmoddai, Trincomalee District on April 16, 2026.

The purpose of the session was to enhance legal awareness among affected community members facing land occupation and land grabbing and to empower them to access justice and pursue appropriate legal remedies.

The session addressed current land-related issues and provided practical legal guidance on how to respond to these challenges and take forward steps toward claiming justice.

This activity was conducted under the project “Civic Action for Empowerment, Justice and Governance in Sri Lanka” with the support of UNOPS / Vriddhi Network.

22/04/2026

Seven Years On: How Long Must Victims Wait for Justice?

ESDF organized a silent protest following the remembrance ceremony, with the participation of victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, their family members, and social activists, to mark the seventh anniversary in the Batticaloa District. During this protest, eight key demands and recommendations were presented to the Government of Sri Lanka and the international community, with the aim of ensuring truth, accountability, and justice for the Easter Sunday attacks, as outlined below.

a) Ensure an independent, accountable, and transparent investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks, grounded in genuine political will and a victim-centered approach. The investigative mechanism should include credible international expertise in the fields of criminal investigation and justice.

b) Immediately release all findings and reports related to the Easter Sunday attack investigations, including those produced by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) and the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), without withholding or redacting information, except where strictly necessary under the law.

c) Expedite all pending legal proceedings and case hearings related to the Easter Sunday attacks. Ensure that individuals who are unlawfully or arbitrarily detained are afforded due process, including timely access to courts and seeking justice.

d) Strengthen access to justice for victims by enhancing legal processes and ensuring the provision of adequate legal assistance. In addition, provide fair, adequate, and non-discriminatory reparations to all victims across communities, with a focus on restoring dignity, rebuilding livelihoods, and facilitating long-term recovery.

e) Establish and implement a sustainable, government-led framework to provide continuous psychological support, trauma counselling, and access to quality medical services for survivors and affected families.

f) Take appropriate legal action against individuals or entities that disseminate false narratives and unsubstantiated claims through media briefings, book publications, and social media in accordance with applicable laws.

g) Adopt effective measures to prevent the stigmatization, terrorist labeling, and collective punishment of the Muslim community. This includes addressing discrimination, hate speech, and targeted harassment by extremist individuals or groups, while ensuring equal protection under the law.

h) Cease all forms of surveillance, intimidation, and interrogation targeting victims and human rights defenders who have been advocating for accountability and justice in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks, including those engaged in memorialization activity; provide legal assistance to victims and detainees

Following the silent protest, ESDF facilitated a civic dialogue between victims and social activists, focusing on identifying the challenges currently faced by victims and exploring pathways to advance accountability and justice for the Easter Sunday attacks.

21/04/2026

The ESDF commemorated the seventh anniversary of the Easter Sunday Attack in solidarity with the victims, survivors, and affected communities in the Batticaloa District. We remembered those who lost their lives and acknowledged the pain and struggles of those who were injured, as well as the families who continue to endure profound grief.

This commemoration was held with the participation of victims’ families and human rights defenders who have been advocating for justice and accountability. A religious ceremony was also conducted, offering prayers for the souls of those who lost their lives in this tragic attack.

17/04/2026

An advocacy planning discussion was conducted by ESDF with the participation of 40 human rights defenders (HRDs), journalists, and civil society organizations (CSOs) from the Eastern Province. The event was held in Batticaloa on April 11, 2026.

The purpose of the discussion was to identify key issues affecting communities in the region and to develop advocacy strategies to address those issues through a collective action. Accordingly, several pressing issues were identified, and developed advocacy strategies with the active participation of them.

This activity was conducted under the project “Civic Action for Empowerment, Justice and Governance in Sri Lanka” with the support of UNOPS / Vriddhi Network.

13/04/2026

The Eastern Social Development Foundation (ESDF) conducted a capacity development training on conflict prevention and transformation, mediation and negotiation, and active leadership for 30 selected women from the districts of Jaffna, Trincomalee, Puttalam, Galle, and Vavuniya. This training was held in Batticaloa on 30 & 31 March, 2025 under the programme titled “Women’s Initiative for Advancing Peace and Security in Sri Lanka.”

The overall objective of the training was to enhance the knowledge and leadership capacities of rural women peacebuilders, with the aim of increasing women’s meaningful participation in local reconciliation processes and ensuring their effective contribution to the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

Furthermore, the training focused on strengthening the leadership of conflict-affected women in ongoing reconciliation processes to actively participate, influence decision-making, and claim justice and remedies.

This activity was supported by the Pathways to Peace programme, funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by Alinea International.

09/04/2026

ESDF facilitated its eighth “Minority Youth’s Network Meeting” in the Puttalam District under the project “Minority Empowerment for Democracy and Pluralism (MEDP) in Sri Lanka.” The meeting was held at ICE Talk on 29 March 2026.

The purpose of the meeting was to undertake an internal evaluation of the project’s progress and its emerging outcomes, while identifying key results, changes, and lessons learned based on the experiences and reflections of the youth beneficiaries.

Youth participants representing targeted minority communities shared their experiences and changes resulting from the MEDP initiative. Through their active engagement, ESDF was able to assess and document notable outcomes, community-level changes, and key lessons learned, including best practices derived from the project.

08/04/2026

ESDF facilitated its seventh “Minority Women’s Network Meeting” in the Puttalam District under the project “Minority Empowerment for Democracy and Pluralism (MEDP) in Sri Lanka.” The meeting was held at the ICE Talk on 28 March 2026.

The meeting aimed to conduct an internal evaluation of the MEDP project’s progress and harvesting outcomes and to identify key outcomes, changes, and lessons learned from the experiences and reflections of the women beneficiaries.

Women participants from the targeted minority groups shared their experiences and the changes brought about through the MEDP initiative. Through their active participation, ESDF was able to review and document significant outcomes, community-level changes, and important lessons learned, including best practices from the project.

06/04/2026

ESDF facilitated its sixth “Minority Youth Network Meeting” in the Trincomalee District under the project “Minority Empowerment for Democracy and Pluralism (MEDP) in Sri Lanka.” The meeting was held at the Green Garden Hotel on 26 March 2026.

The purpose of the meeting was to conduct an internal evaluation of the project’s progress and to harvest outcomes while identifying key results, changes, and lessons learned based on the experiences and reflections of the youth beneficiaries.

Youth participants representing targeted minority communities shared their experiences and the positive changes resulting from the MEDP initiative. Through their active engagement and experience sharing, ESDF was able to assess and document notable outcomes, community-level changes, and important lessons learned, including best practices emerging from the implementation of the project.

Address

33, Railway Road
Oddamavadi
30420

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 16:00
Thursday	09:00 - 16:00
Friday	09:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+94652258320

Website

http://www.esdflanka.org/

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